My summer in the USA

Sounds like my place

Lewisia rediviva with Shellrock Mountain

Campanula scabrella

Kayaking on the Rogue River OR . When I saw these guys I thought to myself there is no way I would do that . Little did I know what fate had in store for me

Smilacina racemosa

Iris innominata

Lewisia cotyledon purdyi in the Siskiyou mist

Asarum marmoratum

What the car looks like when 3 plant nuts spend a long weekend in southern Oregon

The slugs are fairly big in the northwest . Please note that I was trying to blend in as a local with my Oregon Ducks flipflops

Sedum spathulifolium

Calochortus tolmiei on the OR-CA border

Cypripedium californicum

Lilium bolanderi

Xerophyllum tenax had a big flowering year

Lewisia leeana

Calyptridium umbellatum

Off to Wyoming for Aquilegia caerula

A pika . I have a stuffed toy pika that lives in my car . Hibernates over winter by the rev counter and spends the summer on the dash

Last lot . Helianthella quinquenervis

Primula parryi

Caltha leptosepala

Sedum lanceolatum

Hymenoxys grandiflora

Rhodiola rhodantha and R . integrifolia

Phlox condensata

Claytonia megarrhiza

I've never been on a river in a kayak before so the Arkansas River was a new experience . Fortunately one I enjoyed and a great way to finish my trip . From Canon City I drove via Tucson to LAX where I returned my car and hopped on the plane home . When I fuelled the car in Tacna AZ last Wednesday it was 120 deg F . Now I am suffering from severe temperature withdrawal but todays sun and a high of 60 deg F is better . I really enjoyed my time in the USA with its friendly people and incredible scenery , animals and plants .
Cheers
Steve

Fantastic pictures Steve! You really got around and saw some great plants.  The field of Calyptridium is stunning.  Where was that?

So many beauties! (and great pics- your walmart camera did a great job!) I agree with David, the Calyptridium field is impressive, but they are all choice- I don't think anyone would complain if you gave us a round 2, or 3....

David wrote:

Fantastic pictures Steve! You really got around and saw some great plants.  The field of Calyptridium is stunning.  Where was that?

Thanks David . The Calyptridium field was one of the highlights for me . Also one of those OMG moments you sometimes get when out looking around . In the picture below the brown bare bit in the top center is the patch . The second picture is taken from the same spot as the original posting , but looking the other way . There was also a much smaller patch on the other side of the ridge which is where I collected some seed a month later for the seed exchange

Looking west to Dutchman's Peak from above FR 20 ( Mt.Ashland Road ) and the big brown bit

and even more Calyptridium

cohan wrote:

So many beauties! (and great pics- your walmart camera did a great job!) I agree with David, the Calyptridium field is impressive, but they are all choice- I don't think anyone would complain if you gave us a round 2, or 3....

Thanks . I like my new camera but I'm still getting the hang of all its functions . I think I did a week or two with the auto focus function accidentally turned off . Typical . I will post some more next week to see if anybody can ID some plants for me

Jandals wrote:

Looking west to Dutchman's Peak from above FR 20 ( Mt.Ashland Road ) and the big brown bit
and even more Calyptridium

Wow!

cohan wrote:

So many beauties! (and great pics- your walmart camera did a great job!) I agree with David, the Calyptridium field is impressive, but they are all choice- I don't think anyone would complain if you gave us a round 2, or 3....

It is one problem though, I can't focus on my work!

I'm on vacation  ;D Just waiting for a long enough break between thunderstorms to go outside to do some work..

Wonderful pictures, Steve!  What a fabulous trip it must have been!  So many special and beautiful plants, and the Calyptridium pix are mindboggling.  :o

Looks like June 21st is a little early for the high country there.   ;)

It sounds like your trip was quite lengthy from your comment about collecting seed "a month later".  You certainly packed in some amazing sights!

It's quite evident that you did some heavy research choosing your destinations, Steve, and it certainly paid off well!  Every pic is captivating, and oh my gosh, that Calochortus (along with everything else)!  Those little point and shoot cameras have come a long way... Bravo!

Great effort Steve --Damn it  !!  ;D i should have taken up your offer of travelling with you ,at least for part of the time .
Maybe next year Bud.

Cheers Dave.

Cheers Toolie . Yep , we would have had a good time . Hope to go back next year for august/september and catch an IPPS conference and the far west trade show . Also see a few more plants and their seedy bits and the offer still holds .

Lori - the seasons were all mixed up . The Pacific Northwest was at least a month late because of late snow followed by cool weather . Colorado was at least a month early because of drought and less winter snows .
I was in the states for 9 weeks and put 15 000 miles on my rental car . If things had been more normal I was contemplating the mileage to Calgary from Spokane . Maybe next time , especially if Toolie was riding shotgun .

Many of the places I visited I had been to before and only the Siskiyous were new territory . Sean Hogan was my guide there which really helped . A local guide is invaluable and I hope I can reciprocate for any NARGS members wishing to visit New Zealand .

A couple more pictures now and then a few more next week with sp. after there name

Lilium columbianum

Wyethia sp

Caltha leptosepala

Absolutely stunning plants and pictures, Steve ... can't wait to see more ... please!!!